Rigid frame for motor vehicles



July -27 ,11926.

1 R. ISTRES-Au.' 'RIGID FRAME' FOR; MOTOR VEHI'QLs Filed March 30 v H7'- TRNB rss' mennen s'rnnsau. on WAUWn'rosAi, wisconsin. AssrefNoia'ro A. o. SMITH comfortafrroiv, ol MILWAUKEE, wisconsin, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

' mero raar/intron Moronvnnr'cnns.

application nea Mama eo, 1922. seriai No. 547,964.

The invention relates to the frameof an the torsion resisting tubular members conautomobile or other vehicle, and is designed stituting the cross bars and the pressed tov eliminate the feature of `flexibility inchannels constituting the side bars, wherebylierent to the construction of frames of the What is practically a rigid structure in.

usual type, in which the pressed steel chanframes of the classdescribed is achieved. 60 nel vside bars are connected by vsimilarly .ln carrying out my invention, l apply to formed cross bars. each end of the torsion resisting vtubular n ln frames of the older type, that is, frames cross bar, an end plate or shoe inthe form constructed as above ldescribed,`it is imposof a channel member, which `extends transio sible to maintain the side bars in a common versely of the axis of the tubular cross bar 65 plane, when the automobile is subjected 'to and is secured thereto by arc weldingfat a unevenly distributed loads, or 'is operating plurality of points, wvhereby the metalsare over uneven road surfaces. 'The channel fused together and there is effected a comside bars and the like cross bars are flexible plete union f the parts into an integral v by reason of the nature of their construcstructure. The union thus produced has 70 tion, and as a consequence a frame so formed Such a degree of strength that all shearing will twister weave, and the side bars will Stra'lIlS ill the Welded BLIBaS' Undef COIldtOIlS rock one with relation to the other from the Which tend to twist the frame' in lwhich the Plane in Whighit is best that they Should be tubular cross bars have been incorporated preserved at all timed as structural elements' are more widely dis- 75 The unfavorable Conditions arising from tributed. and are SuCCeSSfully TSiSte'dfthis weaving actionof the frame in strain` Although l may Weld through the flanges ing and disarranging the parts supported of the'end plate or shoe so as to fuse the' y thereon, are Well known. It is thepurpose metals 0f the Parts IltOY Ml integral Strut 2'5 of' my invention to overcome the adverse ture, I find the operation may be quickened 80 -conditions referred to, and l achieve this by forming openings orperfOIt'lOIlS in the result by improving the construction of the fenges, S0 that the arcing current may play' frame in such manner thatfor all practical directly upon the tube through the said purposes it is made substantially rigid, so openings and effect fusion of the tube and that the side bars are maintained in a comedges'. of the opening in the ange mole *.35

mon plane at all times, and are not caused economically and with less consumption of to depart therefrom` by unevenly distributed Current l the 'llS'lOIl 0f the adjacent M835 loads 'imposed Vupon the lbody of thevehicle, of lthe metals, such 'Openings in the flanges or by reason of bad road surfaces; are'` filled by the molten metal owing from lin constructing my improved frame, l the fusible weldrod,andthis additional-,metal 90 employ the usual pressed steel channel side= uniting With the tube and filling the openbdrg, which 'am preferable t0 other forms ing, constitutes akey formed integrally upon for various Well known reasons, and replace and-Whh @dect/ Wely locks the tubular memthe usual similarly formed connecting crbss ber against any rotation With relation to bars, by tubular `cross bars, the latter conthe end plate or shoe. By providing a longl 95 y stituting torsion resisting members which, slottransversely of the flange, the resistwhen properly connected at their ends to .the ance to torsional stresses 1s correspondingly channel side bars to produce a permanent increased, by 'reasonof the distribution of structure, serve to maintain the side barsY the strains over a more extended or lengthin a common plane, and contribute to the ened'area. 100' rigidity of the frame, so that the side bars rivhe end plates or shoes referred to are A cannot be rockedone with relation to the somewhat elongated in proportion to thel Othgp, A5 d Consequence of this new ardiameter of the tubular member, so yas to rangement, the' frame of the automobile does constitute a goed leverage, and thus resist 5o not weave or twist under the unfavorable the shearing' strains which are imposed upon 105 conditions referred to, and racking of the the .rivets Which are set at a distance/from structure supported upon. the Vtrame is ob'nvi'- the tubular member and whichA are used to ated. unite the said lates or shoes to the vertical' invention relates particularly to the -webs of the an ed side bars.. vThe elonly Y ou Vruannerfof edecting'the connection between gat/ed end Yplates avea-n .engagement .with im side bars and in the,` `lznges of the channel strain upon the this manner the shearing' rivets is further lessened.

he provisions of construction just described enable me to produce a frame pos sessing the very desirable quality of rigidity, and this result I achieve without sacrificing the strength of the frame in any respect, inasmuch as it is not necessary to perforate the flanges of the-side bars to maken riveted connection between such bars and the cross bars of the frame.

The novel features of my invention will *.be pointed out in the appended claims. 1a l.' In the accompanying drawing:-

b `latter are connectedI .Figure l is a plan view of an automobile frame embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation on the section line 22, Fig. l, tion of the arrow, and showing the formation of a curved tubular torslon resisting cross bar at the front end of the frame.

ig. 3 is an enlarged View in plan showing one end of atorsion resistingtubular cross bar, together with the side bar connecting plate or shoe as secured to the cross bar in accordance with my invention.

4 is a View in elevation on the section line Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow toward the interior of the shoe.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing. one end of the torsion resisting tubular cross bar and its end plate or shoe assembled with relation to the channel side bar, a section of the latter being shown.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, similar to Fig.v 5, showing the flanged formation of the end plate or shoe which is employed as a means for attaching the tubular cross bar tothe channel side bar.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 7"7, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing the preferred manner ot welding the end plate or shoe to the tubular cross bar. v

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section on ine S-8, Fig. l, looking in the direc arrow, and showingthe manner of assembling' the elements of the frame in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawing, numerals. l0 indicate the vopposed pressed steel channel side bars of an automobile or other vehicle frame, the said side bars being spaced apart cross bars 11,` which at their ends to the side bars in such manner as to form a fixed and perma-nent structure. The cross bars will be in'such number as to meet the re quirements of the particular frame which it is desired to manufacture.

In my improved construction, the cross bars l1 constituting the torsion resisting members of the frame, are formed as tubes looking in the direc- `S and may be straight, or curved as indicated in Fig. 2, and of such length as to produce the desired width of the frame in which they are incorporated. The' channel side bars l0 may extend in -parallel vertical planes, or may converge at their forward ends, or be otherwise arranged as desired, the length of such bars being determined by the requirements of the particular construction of'frame.

The end plate or shoe l2, pressed into channel shape from a blank of sheet metal, is permanently unite/d to the tubular cross ar, one at each end, in such 'manner as to form an integral structure. The-laterally projecting Hanges of the end plate or shoe 12 alre separated a distance which is equal to the diameter of the tubular cross bar l1. uchiianges are provided with elongated openings 13, which extend in parallelism with theaxis of the tubular cross bar. The end of the tubular cross bar ll is inserted between the flanges ofthe shoe end plate or shoe l2, with the opposite openings 13 in coincidence with the axis of the cross bar, and with the end of the latter abutting the web of the said plate or shoe.

In uniting the end plates or shoes l2 to the cross bars l1, I employ the arc welding process. The electric current may be conducted to the work by means'of a fusible he same time deposits molten metal flowing from the jweldrod, so as to lill the openings 13, and'etfect a complete union between the parts. The welded line thus formed has an appreciable length', and the fusion of the metals thus effected is ltwo parts. As a result,anyshearing strains to which the joint may be subjected, are to so great an extent .that ample Tests have demonstrated that the union joining the parts is such that the metal of the shoe l2 will be crumpled and torn without breaking the joint.

. may augment the described method of uniting the cross bars and end plates or shoes, by further welding the parts at the points of contact of the end faces of the tube with the vertical web of the end plate or shoe. welding, which is indien manufactured in the manner de- \scribed, the torsion resisting tubular cross bars are provided at their ends with integral means for attaching the cross bars to the side bars.

The width of the plate or shoe 12 may be such, that its flanges will be seated snugly :weaves between the'flanges of the side bar 10. Connection between the end plate or shoe 12 Vns` 1 the'strains and in a greater degree establish and the side bar may be effected by means of rivets passing through the vertical webs of the parts and 12. It is ladvisable that the length of the end plate or shoe be of such extent that a considerable leverage between the torsion resisting tubular cross bar and the rivets connecting the part to the side bar will be provided, so that the shearingvstrain upon such rivets will be resisted an'd overcome. In addition, the engage mentof the flanges whenthe parts are nested one within the other in the manner shown and described, serves to further Idistribute a resistance to any twisting forces to which the frame may be subjectedby reason of the conditions hereinbefore described.

The laterally extending flanges of the channel side bars 10, serve as tension and compression members, the strength of which is lessened by perforations vin such flanges for the accommodation of rivets, in the` usual process of manufacturing frames. lt is my desire to avoid perforating the flanges of the side bars for the usual rivets, and IA `may unite the flanges of the end,plate or shoe 12 to the flanges of the side bar 10, by welding through openings 16 in the flanges of the side bar. This will` permit the effective fusion of the metals ofthe adjacent parts,'and at the same time suchopenings will be filled by molten metal flowing from the fusible weldrod employed to conduct the'welding current. The fusion of the metals and accretion by the deposit of molten metal made by the weldrod, restores the integrity of the flanges of the side bar,

so that .the latter lis not weakened in any degree. llt is obvious that instead of perforating the flanges of theside bar as at 15,k and welding in the manner described, spot welding of the contiguous flanges of the shoe and sidebar at the desired points may be resorted to.

rlhe abutting engagement of the end of the tubular cross bar with the web of the' end plate 12, with the parts welded in the manner described, prevents any rocking movement of the crossb'ar in the longitudinal plane o the frame.4 Consequently longitudinal movement of oneA side bar withl relation to the other is prevented. The'di-e ameter of the tube used for the cross bar determines the leverage afforded by the radius of the cross bar at the opposite connecting points between the end of the cross bar and theweb of the end plate. Byusing tubes of larger diameter, a greater degree of rigidity in the particular mentio'ne isy attained.

r111e' steps' which are performed in carry-. ing my invention into practice, enable me to produce a vehicle frame in 'which the ,to maintain the frame substantially free from any vertical twisting or rocking tendencies, or longitudinal racking, Such as have heretofore proven very objectionable'. Such tendencies are practically overcome by reduction to a negligible quantity.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofA the AUnited States, is z* 1. In a vehicle frame, the combination of channel side bars, torsion resisting tubular cross bars extended between the said side bars, with means upon the ends of the cross bars for connecting the cross bars to constitute the frame, the said means comprising plates or shoes having flanges between which the ends of' the cross bars are entered and joined thereto by welding through the flanges.

2. In a vehicle frame, the combination of channel side bars, torsion resisting tubular cross bars extended between the said side bars, with means upon the ends of the cross bars for connecting the cross bars to the side bars to constitute the frame, the said means comprising plates or shoes having flanges between which the ends of the cross bars are entered and-joined` thereto by welding on lines coincident with the axis of the cross 3. ln a vehicle frame, the combination of channel side bars, torsion resisting 'tubular cross bars extended 4between the said side bars, with means upon the ends of the cross bars for connecting the cross bars to the side bars to constitute the frame, the said means comprising plates or shoes having a web and projecting flanges between which latter the:

ends of the cross bars are entered in abutting relation to the web, and joined by welding lthrough the flanges.

ch'nel'fflide-bars, torsion resisting tubular bars to the side roc the combination of bars ext-ended between the said side cross bars extended between the said side bars, with bars for connecting the cross bars to the side'bars to constitute the frame, the said means comprising end pieces disposed'transversely to the axis of the crossbar and embracing the latter, and Welded thereto on lines longitudinally 'with the said end pieces engaging the anges of the channel side bars.

6. In a vehicle frame, the combination of.

channel side'bars, t0`rs1on resisting tubular cross bars extended between `the said side bars, With means upon the ends'of the cross bars for connecting` the cross bars to the side bars to constitute the frame, the said means comprising end projecting'ianges between which the ends of vof \ lar cross bar -and an end the tubular cross bars are enteredand Welded together at the opposite lines of engagement the tubularcross bar withV the said anges.

7. A constructional element for a vehicle frame, comprising a torsion resistinglftubu` piece integrally united thereto, the' said 'endy piece being formed as a channel member with` projecting ianges wliich'embrace the end of the cross bar, and the said flanges being provided lwith openings' coincident with the cross bar and through which the Welding-of -theparts is effected. i I

. 8. An integra1ly-fformed constructional element for a vehicle frame, the saidelemeans upon the ends of the crossv of the cross bar, and;

plates with laterally ment com rising a flanged end plate or shoe and 'a tu ular torsion resisting cross bar, `the flanges vided with openings 1n conjunction with which the end. of the cross bar is associated, andthe parts being Welded together in the area of the said openings.

'9. An integrally formed constructional element for a vehicle frame, the said element comprising a flanged end plate or shoe provided with separated flanges anda tubular 'torsion resisting cross bar entered between the flan es of the end plate or shoe and Welded t ereto/in the longitudinal direction ofthe cross bar.

l0. An integrally element for a vehicle formed constructional frame, the said eleof the plateJ o1` shoe being pro-- ment comprising a tubular torsion resisti lng cross bar and a flanged end plate vor shoe provided with separated iianges between Which the end "of the cross bar is entered and Welded thereto through the flanges of the end plate or shoe.

ll. An integrally formed const ructional element for a vehicle frame, the said element comprising atubular torsion resisting cross bar and a fianged end plate or shoe provided with separated flanges between which the .edof the cross bar is entered and Welded thereto. e

'Intestimonywhereoh I have signed my name at'MilWaukee, this 27th day of March, 1922. v i

v R. STRESAU. 

